I am whoever I say I am.

The name is Mindy -- or Min-D as some friends like to say, or even MSkut (hybrid of my first and last name) -- and I'm a newspaper reporter just outside Charlotte, NC. I started this blog in April 2008 as a means of expanding my horizons and moving away from the "woe is me, here's what is happening in my life" blogging. Instead, I tried out the "hey, look how witty I can be" and the "this is what I have to say about 'insert topic here'" kind, and so far, it's worked pretty well. But there's much ground still to cover!

Yours truly...!!

Delve into the past.

Delve into the past.

Grace in Small Things: 38/365

Feb. 1, 2010
1. Didn't get to go to D.C. (stupid snow!), but had a FABULOUS weekend anyway.
2. Played in the snow - with my dog - for the first time in at least 10 years.
3. Went shopping yesterday!
4. Unburied my car from the inches of snow and ice this morning.
5. Leftover Olive Garden tonight. Yummmmm.

A little extra insight into yours truly.

Feel free to Email me.

One week ago today, at 5:08 p.m., an adorable little boy was born in Scranton, Pa. that I am more than proud to call my nephew.

First picture!

At 8 lbs., 3 oz. and 21 inches long, Jaidyn Christopher was welcomed into the world by my brother and his girlfriend. And come tomorrow, after a nine-hour drive to Scranton, I’ll finally get to meet the little guy who made me an aunt!

Expect plenty of pictures once I return (on Sunday, so early next week they’ll be posted) because I couldn’t be more excited to have this baby boy in my life. Yay, I’m an aunt! …Aunt Mindy. It has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you say?

He’s only one week old and yet I have so many hopes for his life. Sure, there’s the general ones – love, happiness, strength, courage, etc. But I truly hope that 18 years from now when he embarks upon the world on his own there will be doors open to him that many of us can’t even imagine right now. My dream is that he takes advantage of every opportunity before him no matter how big or how small. That he grows up to be an amazing man some day who can do anything he wants despite any obstacles that could stand in his way. I want so much for Jaidyn and he’s barely seven days old…

I also look at my nephew and cross my fingers that these two parents he’s been blessed with are everything he deserves. Too many kids are shortchanged in life these days with one, or sadly both, parents who simply don’t care and aren’t living up to their obligations as parents. While I of course hope my brother’s girlfriend is an amazing mother, I more so want my brother to be the kind of father I genuinely wish he and I had. This little guy deserves that and I sincerely pray that my 22-year-old brother can fulfill every hope I hold for him as a dad. I believe he can. I really do. And as his one and only big sister – and Jaidyn’s aunt and godmother – I’ll make sure to keep my brother on that path toward being an outstanding father.

Less than 24 hours from now, I’ll be on the highway, headed north to meet a baby boy who won’t have any clue who I am, and that doesn’t bother me in the least bit. To have him in my arms for just one moment, one brief second, will seriously make me the happiest girl in the entire world tomorrow. I absolutely cannot wait!

Aw, congrats! My brother became a father at 22 and when his girlfriend was pregnant, he was already telling us all about how different he was going to be from our father. And he’s really proven that, just 14 months into fatherhood.

Due to the fact that my brother spends his days off with his son and does family events all the time, I think he’s going in the right direction. And he is so against being like my father that I just know he’s going to be different.

And being an aunt is the most fun job in the world! Lots of benefits, none of the responsibility!

Wow, your life seems so much like mine it’s somewhat scary! Ha. My brother is 22… Hearing that your brother is different makes me very hopeful. Little guy is only 12 days old and my brother’s already talking about him racing BMX, ha. It’s kind of cute.

It’s so amazing how you can love someone before you’ve ever met them. He’s a lucky little fella to have an aunt who is already so invested in his future.

Congrats!

I think I loved that little guy the second I knew he would be arriving. And you’re right, so amazing and yet bizarre (a bit) to love someone you don’t even know! Now that I’ve held him in my arms though, I love him that much more.